Locking device with a plurality of latches



J1me 1938- E. MASSHOLDER 2,119,996

LOCKING DEVICE WITH A PLURALITY OF LATCHES Filed Aug. 20, 1937 INVENTQR ATzRNEY Patented June 7, 1938 PATENT OFFICE LOCKING DEVICEv WITH A PLURAIJTY OF LATCHES Edgar Massholder, Heidelberg, Germany Application August 20,

1937, Serial No. 160,024

In Germany July 3, 1936 3 Claims.

My invention relates to locking devices with a plurality of movable latches or bolts.

Known devices of this kind show a more or less limited applicability, i. e., the individual de- 5 vices generally are adapted to one particular arrangement and cannot without much change be used in combination with arrangements of different kinds. These locking devices further have a rather intricate latch mechanism, the individual latches of which are brought into and out of their locking position by moving simultaneously all the latches or at least a plurality of latches forming one of several latch groups. Due to the complicated construction of the mechanism for moving the latches, the number of latches hitherto was rather small. The bulky mechanism, its great weight, and the rather high cost of its manufacture practically excluded the application of this type of locking device in a broader and more general field.

It is an object of my invention to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages in order to broaden the field of applicability of locking devices having a plurality of latches, thus attaining the result that such a device can be used for avoiding drawbacks in places where manifold locking devices have already been used as well as in cases where the above-mentioned disadvantages of known manifold devices hitherto prevented their use instead of ordinary locks with single latches.

It further is an object of my inventionv to simplify the construction of manifold latch devices especially by applying a simplified principle of moving the individual latches.

Another object consists in increasing the number of latches without complicating the mechanism for operating the latches.

Still another object of my invention is to diminish the weight and to choose the measurements of the locking device, 1. e., to restrict its breadth in comparison with its length, in order to facilitate its general application.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description.

According to my invention a locking device having a plurality of individually movable latches is provided with a knob or handle which is mov- 50 able transversely with respect to the latches and, when moving, successively engages the latches and brings them into or out of their locking position according to the direction in which the knob is moving. The device preferably is provided with means for holding the latches in their end positions independently of the moving or operating mechanism.

The drawing illustrates the invention by way of example. All the figures refer to the same embodiment.

Figure 1 shows this embodiment in a top view, partly in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 shows a cross section along the line A-A of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows another cross section along the line B-B of Figure 1.

Figure 4 represents a side view of the locking device shown in Figure 1 in combination with an arrangement having a cover to be locked, and

Figure 5 gives an inside view showing some details of the device of Figure 1.

The locking mechanism enclosed by the housing I contains a number of latches 2. Each latch forms part of a guiding plate 2a (Figures 1, 2

and 4) and is slidably mounted in the housing so as to protrude through openings I5 (Figure 5). Figure 2 shows a latch in unlocked position; Figure 4 a latch in locked position. Springs 3 serve to secure the latches 2 in the end positions shown in Figures 2 and 4. In the embodiment shown in the drawing the springs 3 consist of wires which are mounted on the inner wall of housing I by means of holders 8 (Figure 5). In both end positions of latch 2, the wire 3 catches into a notch I6 of the latch and prevents it from undesired movements.

The guiding part 2a of each latch 2 has a clearance 4 bordered by curved shoulders 2b. The housing I has a longitudinal slot 6. A slide I1 carrying a knob or handle I is movable in this slot. A ledge 5 is fixed to the slide I! in a slanted position with respect to the slot. The ledge fits into the clearances 4 of the latches 2.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The device shown in Figure 1 has its knob 5, which is indicated by a dotted circle, in an intermediate position. The latches at the left side of. the ledge are in locked position, whereas the latches at the right are unlocked. vWhen the handle I and therewith the slide I1 and the ledge 5 are moved to the left, the ledge successively comes into the recesses 4 of the adjoining latches and moves the latches 2 back into the housing. If the handle I is moved to the left, the latches 2 are successively pushed out of the housing into the locking position shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 also shows one of the possible ways of application. In this case the device serves to lock the cover or door of a container, the walls of which are indicated by I I. The housing I is provided with means for mounting it on the container. These means consist of a bolt I4 and a nut Ho. The bolt is either loosely inserted into a hole in housing I or rigidly riveted to the housing. The cover or door 9 mounted on a hinge ll of container H by means of a bolt i2, is provided with a notch member i3. This member is fixed to the cover by rivets M. The notches Ila may however also be provided directly in the bodyof cover 9, or thenotch element as well as the means for mounting this element or for mounting the housing I may have other suitable forms. The cover 9 is locked by a plurality of latches and is opened by actuating the handle l1 and thereby moving the latches 2 successively out of the notches.

As will be seen from the embodiment illustrated, the mechanism is of rather simple con-- struction, and the number of latches operated .by one handle is practically unlimited. It will further be seen that the operating elements of the device remain the same regardless of how many latches are to be operated. A further advantage consists in-that the latches are moved individually, however in timely short succession. Therefore a great number of latches may be employed without rendering the operation cumbersome, and the operation needs very little eflort even in the case of a great number of latches. In

further contrast to prior locking devices, the.

latches act separately and avoid interconnections or other links liable to complicate the construction, manufacture, or operation of the device.

Devices according'to my invention can be used for all purposes in which two rigid bodies are to be locked, coupled or in any manner detachably connected. Besides the embodiment illustrated by Figure 4, the invention may be used in connection with trunks, bags, cases, closets, etc. De-.

vices according to my invention may further be used for joining individual parts of disjointable units or combinations, or for detachably in stalling objects in their receptacles or depositorie's.

I claim:-

1. A locking device comprising a housing, a

series of latches mounted in said housing, said latches being movable independently of one another, an operating member arranged on said housing so as to be movable across said series of position with respect to the direction of said slot,

and a plurality of latch elements slidably mounted in said housing and having their latches proper extending through said openings when in locked position, each of said latch elements forming a coupling member engageabie by said ledge in order to be actuated by moving said slide.

3. Aloeking device comprising a housing having'a plurality of series arranged openings and a longitudinal slot extending in parallel to 'said series arrangement, a plurality of latches slidably mounted in said housing and guided by said openings, a slide movable in said slot, a ledge mounted insideof said housing to said slide so as to have a slanted position with respect to said slot, each of said latches having a recess engageable by said ledge, said ledge and said recesses being designed for successively moving said latches into and out of locking position when moving said slide, and elastic means disposed in saidhousing for securing said latches in locked and unlocked position.

, EDGAR MASSHOLDER. 

